Designer Profile: Antonio Berardi Pt. 1
“The Berardi woman is a woman who is aware of her sexuality, sensuality, and who appreciates the meticulous nature of what I do.”
History- The son of Sicilian emigrants, Antonio’s parents moved to Britain in the 50’s, where he developed an interest in fashion early on. Even at the age of nine, he would save up his money to buy designer clothes. As he got older, her decided he wanted to be a designer and went to college at Lincoln College of Art and Design and applied to the fashion Bachelor of Arts program at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design at the University of the Arts London but his application was denied. He went on to work for John Galliano and in 1990, he applied again for the third time and was accepted. He graduated from the college in 1993, and in 1994 created his graduate collection which caught the attention of Angela Quaintrell, a buyer for London fashion holding group Liberty. He produced his first collection in Fashion Week ‘95 with financial backing from Liberty. In 1998, he became the head designer for Ruffo Research, while maintaining his own label. The following year he negotiated a partnership with Italian label Extè. He became the label’s head designer, and Extè also produced his own line but left Extè in 2001.
Style- Antonio is known for designing very body conscious dresses that hug the body and having inimitably feminine approach to tailoring. His looks have been described as sensual, striking, classical, and dressed-up. His clothes also feature advanced fabrics and manufacturing techniques not seen on many runways.
Antonio has named many points of influence including music, independent film, post-modern art, Catholic symbolism, Italian art and culture, urban street style, lingerie, and the female form. Berardi credits many design influences to his Italian roots: hourglass figures are his preferred silhouette and he constantly references Catholic symbolism.
So Random…..8
I personally LOVE when fashion repeats itself. For me, it gives us an opportunity to see different takes on the same trend. I just wanted to show you that NOTHING in fashion is original (which is also the reason a designer could never copyright a look). Today is THE HEEL-LESS SHOE:
Antonio Berardi (worn here by Victoria Beckham)
Natacha Marro (worn here by Daphne Guinness)
Nina Ricci
Noritaka Tatehana (worn here by Lady Gaga)
I must sadly say that out of the 4, the Noritaka Tatehana’s are the only ones I don’t like. I don’t like how….floppy?…..it makes the foot look. The others have support which allow for the shoe to keep its shape when worn but these just look weird and unattractive to me. Sorry Gaga.
And as is everything in fashion, these shoes were inspire from an outside source. In this case, it was taken from fetish shoes worn by women who are into fantasizing they are horses, which is where the hoof shape of the heel comes from.
After posting, it hit me what I don’t like about this version of the shoe….the arch isn’t high enough for me so it makes the shoe look a little flat.
